Friday, March 7, 2003

Hickory, N.C.--The 2002-2003 South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball All-Conference teams and award recipients were announced during the tournament basketball awards banquet Friday night at the Holiday Inn Select in Hickory, N.C.

Approximately 275 players, coaches, media, support staff and special guests attended this year’s function, which tips off the final rounds of the tournament, to be played Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, in the CVCC Multipurpose Facility.

Tusculum College coach Suzanne McBride was named Women’s Coach of the Year, respectively. McBride, in her third year with the Lady Pioneers, guided her team to a 7-7 conference record, good for a tie for third place. That is the highest finish for Tusculum since joining the South Atlantic Conference.

Two standout players shared the top honor on the women’s side. Lenoir-Rhyne College’s Maya Grady and Wingate University’s Jessica Guarneri were named Co-Players of the Year. Guarneri led the SAC in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage and was honored as Player of the Week one time. Grady ranked fourth in scoring, second in assists and first in steals. Her steal average ranks her among the national leaders. She was honored as Player of the Week on two occasions.

The women’s Freshman of the Year is Veronica Taylor of Wingate University. Taylor led all freshman players, averaging 14.9 points, seventh best in the conference, and 8.7 rebounds per game, third best in the league.

Women’s champion Catawba placed two players on the All-Conference Team, as did Carson-Newman, Mars Hill, Presbyterian and Wingate. Lenoir-Rhyne and Tusculum each had one player on the team.

Numerous players were presented with the SAC Senior Participant Award, given to players who are competing in their final season of SAC play, and the Statistical Champion Award, presented to players and teams leading the SAC in various statistical categories at the end of the regular season.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Suzanne McBride, Tusculum
CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maya Grady, Lenoir-Rhyne, Jessica Guarneri, Wingate
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Veronica Taylor, Wingate
SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Julie Maples, Tusculum

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